A study timetable is probably one of the first things an earnest, well meaning student will do when sitting down to tackle their study. It is in fact, one of the first things those who teach study skills will recommend. I’ve seen it many times – and done it myself many times; you spend hours dividing up your time equally, drawing up the table with artistic fervour, making sure all subjects get their fair share. Two days later, you’re working on a new one! Yes, time management is a very important aspect of your studying, but there are some dangers and pitfalls to such an approach to study!
It is hidden form of procrastination: Although the time spent organising yourself is very important, quite often the composition of a timetable is really only a way of postponing the study! You are in danger of this if you find yourself spending hours making your timetable neat and artistic, or if you often start new timetables when you drift from your original course. If you must make one, make sure it’s rough and quickly done. And get started actually studying straight away. The emphasis is on time spent and not on work done. You have forty minutes for maths; you keep checking your watch, hoping the time will be up soon and as soon as it is, “Woo hoo, finished studying!” You can honestly hold your hands up and say you ‘tried’ or you ‘worked hard’ when those results don’t come through. And no one can understand how you didn’t do better. (Parents are often perplexed by the hours spent in the bedroom studying without corresponding progress in school!) There is no focus on what needs to be covered. Timetables mean you keep on keeping on, following your routine without checking if you’re covering enough. You may find that in spite of all your time spent, that the end of the year comes and you still haven’t finished all your work! Timetables are security blankets. They make you feel like you’re studying, make you feel better, but don’t make you address the real progress you are making.
Does any of this sound familiar? I know from my own experience and from the knowing smiles I get from my students when I mention these pitfalls that many students fall into the timetable trap! So what do we do about it? Throw out the timetables altogether? Not at all. Used properly, time management is essential to a good study programme. But it shouldn’t be your first step, especially if time is short, and it often is when it comes to study, let’s face it!
By: Steve Bracken
Posts Tagged ‘Timetable’
Study Success – The Study Timetable Trap – Part 1
October 19th, 2009How to Make a Study Timetable – Academic Success Through Study
October 17th, 2009
Most successful students know how to make a study timetable. If you want to succeed at getting good grades, then you may want to try this to make a schedule.
A study timetable helps you to stay on track with your studies. When you plan ahead, you know what you need to do and when you need to do it by. A timetable can also help you to fit in other activities that are important to you.
For many people, it’s easiest to make a study timetable that’s made up of columns. Start by drawing a small border along the top and left sides of the paper. This is where you’ll put the days and the times. It doesn’t have to be as big as your real columns. Divide the rest of the paper into seven columns. List the days at the top.
Then, create rows for each time period. It’s usually best to divide your time into one-hour blocks. It’s OK if you have a particular project that takes longer than an hour, but this allows you to easily divide your time. Write your chosen times along the left side of the paper on each row.
Now that you have the basic outline for your study timetable, you may want to make copies of this. It’s easier to use a copy than to draw it fresh each week.
Fill in the time periods with your mandatory activities. These may include classes, after school activities, or family activities. If you have a study hall or a gap in between classes, leave that time frame blank for now because you can add in study time later.
Look at your class project deadlines for the upcoming week. Do you have any large projects due? Any big tests coming up? These are the things that should take priority over other studies. Put them into your blank spots first. After you’ve got the major projects mapped out, pencil in time for general studying or for daily homework assignments.
If you do this on a weekly basis, you’ll be in pretty good shape for getting all of your assignments done and doing well on your tests.
By: Stephanie Tekrider
